Multisection antenna and static modifier



s. l.. LONG Y MULTISECTION ANTENNA AND STATIC MOD-FIER Sept. 24, 1929.

Filed April 13, 1927 Patented Sept. 24, 1929 PATENT OFFICE SIDNEY L. LONG, F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA MULTISECTION ANTENNA AND STATIC MODIFIER Application led April 13,

My invention relates to radio receiving sets and is particularly directed to the provision of an improved multisection antenna with interposed switches, which latter, in addition r, to their primary function, operate as static modifiers or reducers and are capable of use at various places in the circuits of the receiving set.

Generally stated, the invention consists of io the novel devices, combinations of devices and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a View chiefly in diagram showing my invention incorporated in a radio-receiving system including the multi-section antenna, receiving set, and speaker;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section showing one of the switches;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sections on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, said Fig. 3 showing the switch in a circuit-closing position, and Fig. 4 showing the switch in a circuit-opening position; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of the receiving set, speaker and connecting circuits.

Of the parts of the receiving system, the

no numeral 6 indicates the receiving set, the numeral 7 the speaker and the numerals 8 the aligned sections of the multi-section antenna. This antenna, at its en ds, is insulated from the supporting wires 9 by the customary insula- IV tors 10. Between the aligned antenna sections 8 are interposed switches of novel construction and which, in the preferred arrangement, operate as static modifiers or reducers. Preferably, these switches are in the form of glass bulbs 11 having axially aligned 4sleeves 12 that are offset from the center of the bulb and, as shown in Fig. 2, are close to the flattened top of the bulb. Tightly fitted into the sleeves 12 are insulating bushings 13 through which metallic electrodes 14 are passed. These electrodes 14, by means of nuts 15 and 16, are tight-ly clamped in the bushings and their inner ends project into the bulbs but are spaced so that current cannot flow directly between the same.

1927. Serial N0. 183,332.

The antenna sections 8 are attached directly to the looped outer ends of the respective electrodes 14. At their bulged portions, the bulbs l1 are shown as provided with small eyes 17 with which operating cables 1S are :f:

attached, and these operating cables, as shown, are passed through supporting guides 19 and are extended to some place within easy reach of the operator at the instrument 6, where they may be adjustably anchored to suitable fastening devices 20. The bulbs 11 are partially filled with a conducting liquid which, when the bulb is turned into the position shown in Fig. 2, will be below the aligned electrodes 14, thereby breaking the circuit at that particular switch. iVhen, however, the bulb is rotated into the inverted position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the liquid y/ will submerge the inner ends of the electrodes 14 and will afford a conductor closing the circuit between the said electrodes. The pre ponderance of weight of liquid y in the bulbs will normally hold the bulbs in the circuitopening positions shown in Fig. 2, but by pulling on the operating cable 18, the bulb may be turned into its inverted position. It will be understood, of course, that there will be sufficient flexibility in the antenna section 8 and in the connections between the same and the electrodes 14 to permit free rotation of the switch bulbs from the one eXtreme position to the other.

I have found that by using a brine or saline solution, (sodium chloride dissolved in water), the conducting liquid in the switch,

in addition to its conducting function, will act as a static modifier and will very greatly reduce the action of static in the receiving set.

Of course, the antenna may be made up of any desired number of sections. or one of the end sections 8, is connected to the receiving set 6 by a wire 21 and the receiving set is connected to the speaker 7 by two wires 22. In each of the said wires 21 and 22 is interposed a switch that is preferably very much like an antenna switch described and which, in fact, differs therefrom only in that the bulb 11 is provided with fiat top and bottom surfaces 11b and 11. /Vhen a bulb 11a is set on its surface 11C, as shown in Fig.

The first, l

3, the liquid y in the bulb will close the circuit, but when the bulb is set on its surface 11b, as shown in Fig. 4, the switch will break or open the circuit.

With the antenna switches adjusted as shown in Fig. l, only the iirst two sections of the antenna are operatively connected. This adjustment of the operative length of the antenna will adapt the system to best receive bot-h long and short waves. called to the further important fact that, as the operative length of the antenna is increased, each closed switch brings into action an additional static modifier or reducer. The switches used in the wires 2l and 22 act as static modifiers and, in fact, that is their chief function and they would be very useful even if not adjustable to open and closed circuits.

When static conditions are very bad, even when the static is reduced or eliminated in the antenna, static conditions can be produced directly in the receiving set and it is chiefly to remove or reduce these bad static conditions produced in the set that the modiiiers are applied in the wires 2l and 22.

From what has been said, it will be understood that the devices herein described are capable of a large range of modilication within the spirit of the invention as herein disclosed.

What I claim is:

l. A static modiiier adapted to be interposed in an antenna circuit and comprising a receptacle having tubular sleeves formed thereon, elastic bushings of insulating material in said sleeves, spaced electrodes passed through said bushings and into said receptacle, means on said electrodes for laterally compressing and circumiereutially extending said bushings to make said container air and liquid tight, and a conductor consisting of a saline solution in said container through which electric energy is adapted to be passed between said electrodes,

2. A static modifier adapted to be interposed in an antenna circuitand comprising a receptacle of insulating material having tubular sleeves formed thereon, elastic bushings in said sleeves, screw threaded spaced electrodes passed through said bushings and into said receptacle, eyes formed on the outer ends of said electrodes for connection to the spaced inner ends of a conductor, internally threaded means on said electrodes for laterally compressing and circumferentially eX- panding said bushings to make said container air and liquid tight and also to hold said electrodes against movement into or out of said container, and a conductor consisting of a saline solution in said container between said electrodes.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

SIDNEY L. LONG.

Attention is 

